Spiraea Plant Named &#39;SMNSJMFP&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Spiraea  cultivar named ‘SMNSJMFP’ is disclosed, characterized by a extremely abundant flowering, attractive dark burgundy red foliage in the Spring, and bright pink flowers. The new variety is a  Spiraea , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Spiraea japonica

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SMNSJMFP’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Spiraea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Timothy D. Wood, in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Spiraea varieties with compact, full plant habits and novel flower and leaf colors. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during June of 2007.

The parent are unknown varieties of Spiraea japonica, as seed was bulk collected and actual parents not identified. In a block of 100 mature, flowering, unnamed seedlings that had been pretreated with 10 greys of radiation, seed was collected from ten plants evaluated to have the best foliage and flowers. This collected seed was grown out and seedlings selected for superior foliage, flower coverage and flower color. The pollen parent is unknown, as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in June of 2009, at a greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMNSJMFP’ by softwood cuttings was first performed during June of 2009 , at commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 3 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNSJMFP’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNSJMFP’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNSJMFP’ as a new and distinct Spiraea cultivar:

1. Bright purely pink flowers as opposed to typical lavender-pink flowers.

2. Attractive dark burgundy red foliage in the Spring.

3. Extremely abundant flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Parents are unknown.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNSJMFP’ can be compared to the commercial variety Spiraea ‘ Galen’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,712. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘SMNSJMFP’ differs in the following:

1. Pure pink flowers. The comparator's flowers are purplish-pink.

2. Darker red colored Spring foliage.

3. More abundant flowering.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNSJMFP’ can also be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Spiraea ‘Anthony Waterer’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘SMNSJMFP’ differs in the following:

1. Pure pink flowers. The comparator's flowers are purplish-pink.

2. Dark red foliage in the Spring. The comparator's Spring foliage is green.

3. Clean, attractive foliage. The comparator often displays shoots with albino foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical flowering plant of ‘SMNSJMFP’ grown in an outdoor flower bed, in Grand Haven, Mich. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 years. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 1995 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMNSJMFP’ plants grown in a commercial greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. The plants were 2 years old and in 1 gallon containers. The growing temperature ranged from 10° C. to 38° C. The greenhouse is double poly covered though the winter. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Spiraea japonica ‘SMNSJMFP’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at approximately 22°             C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, moderate to dense, medium             thickness and freely branching. Cream to brown in color, not             effectively measured with a color chart.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 2 months at 22°             C. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years old.         -   Growth habit.—Mounded with good branching.         -   Pot size of plant described.—1 gallon pot.         -   Overall plant shape.—Upright and rounded.         -   Height.—Approximately 42 cm to top of foliage.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 72 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Rapid.         -   Plant vigor.—Strong.         -   Branching characteristics.—Strong branching, some basal             branching, pinching required.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately range of             20 to 42 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 3 to 5 mm.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—Average 23.         -   Stem.—Stem Appearance: Rounded in cross section, woody after             1 year. Stem Strength: Strong Stem Color: New growth: Near             RHS Yellow-green 144B Bark: Near RHS Greyed-orange 165A             Pubescence: None Angle: Outward 45° Other plant             characteristics: On new growth branches form at almost every             internode.         -   Internode length.—Average 1.6 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate, single Leaf shape: Ovate             Quantity: Approximately 12 fully expanded per main branch.             Average Length: Approximately 4 to 5.3 cm Average Width:             Approximately 2 to 2.5 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate Leaf             Pubescence: None Margin: Double serrate Texture of top             surface: Smooth, glabrous Texture of bottom surface: Smooth,             interrupted by protruding leaf veins. Color.         -   Spring foliage.—Upper and lower surfaces: New growth emerges             colored near RHS Red-Purple 60A, maturing to Red-Purple 59B.         -   Foliage changes to yellow-green and green after             spring.—Young foliage upper side: Between RHS Yellow-green             144C and 146A Young foliage under side: Between near RHS             Yellow-green 144C and 146A Mature foliage upper side: Near             RHS Green 135A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green             132C Venation: Pattern: Pinnate Color upper side: Base of             vein: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A Outer Branches; near RHS             Green 135A Color under side: Base of veins: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145A Outer Branching: Near RHS Green 132C             Petiole: Average Length: Approximately 5 mm Diameter: 1 mm             Petiole color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A Petiole             color lower side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A Petiole Texture             upper side: Smooth Petiole Texture lower side: Smooth             Stipules characteristics: Stipules at every internode 2 mm             long, near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Late Spring through the Summer.         -   Flower arrangement.—Single whorled rotate flowers.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Terminal corymb.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—3-4 weeks.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Over 100.         -   Inflorescence size.—Width: Approximately 4 cm Height:             Approximately 3 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—Several hundred.         -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—Several hundred.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—Several hundred.         -   Individual flowers.—.         -   Flower form.—Rotate.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright and outward.         -   Flowering habit.—Blooms freely on terminal corymbs.         -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 6 mm Length: Approximately 6             mm Depth: Approximately 6 mm.         -   Flower other characteristics.—Persistence: Self cleaning.             Fragrance: Slightly fragrant, sweet, pleasant.         -   Petal.—Petal arrangement: Single whorl of five petals Number             of petals per flower: 5 Petal Shape: Globose Petal Base:             Obtuse Margin: Entire Tip shape: Widely obtuse Length: 3 mm             Width: 2.5 mm Texture: Upper: Smooth, Glabrous Lower:             Smooth, Glabrous.         -   Petal color.—.         -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72A Lower             surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72B.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72C Lower             surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 74C.         -   Fading to.—Upper surface: Near RHS Purple 77C Lower surface:             Near RHS Purple 77C.         -   Bud.—Shape: Globose Length: Approximately 3 mm Diameter:             Approximately 3 mm Color: Base of bud near RHS Yellow-Green             145A shading to Red-Purple 72A at the apex just before             opening.         -   Sepals.—Shape: Acute Arrangement: Single whorl of 5 sepals             Number of Sepal: 5 Length: Approximately 1 mm Width:             Approximately 1 mm Margin: Entire Base: Fused. Tip: Acute             Texture: Smooth, glabrous Color: Upper side: Near RHS             Red-Purple 59B Lower side: Near RHS Red-Purple 59B.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 2 mm Diameter: 4 mm Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144A Orientation: Upright and outward Strength:             Strong Texture: Smooth, glabrous.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 5 mm Diameter: 0.5 mm Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145A Orientation: Upright and outward Strength:             Strong Texture: Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: Approximately 25 Filament length: 5 mm             Filament color: Near RHS Red-Purple 73D.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Globose Length: Approximately 0.25 mm Color:             Near RHS Black 202A Pollen Color: Between RHS White 155B.         -   Pistil.—Number: 5-12 Length: Approximately 2 mm Style:             Length: Approximately 0.5 mm Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 67A             Stigma: Shape: Globose Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 67B Ovary             color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not observed to date.         -   Garden performance.—Excellent performance in a garden             setting.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Good mildew resistance observed.             Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and             pests of Spiraea have been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures between −31° C. to 38 ° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea plant named ‘SMNSJMFP’ as herein illustrated and described. 